For starters, I'm not sure how I feel about Hillary Clinton as potentially our next Secretary of State. I mean, I do agree that she'd likely be damn good at the job, and despite her husband's past foibles, she has instant international credibility. There's really not much to debate about that.
But --
I suppose I hoped more for a Richardson appointment. He might have more work to do in the beginning, building his reputation with world leaders, but it would be so, so refreshing to have our new administration keep an arm's length from any remnants of the Bush/Clinton schism that has strained our country for so long. You'll note that I'm just as happy to have the Clintonites behind us as I am the Bushies.
Oh well, as long as it's not John Kerry, I think everybody wins either way.
As for Lieberman, I'm actually relieved the Democratic Caucus left him more or less intact. Not for his sake, mind you. I don't like him. Specifically, I think he's skeezey and opportunistic. But, love him or hate him, he had a right to support whichever candidate he chose, in whatever way he wished. Stripping him of his big chairmanship and/or tossing him out of the party would have sent the wrong message, and frankly, President-Elect Obama had it right when he called for leniency. Really, it's for voters, not legislators, to decide whether he should remain in place.
Speaking of voters' decisions, a giant heart-felt THANK YOU to our Alaskan kin who, by the slimmest of margins, showed a bit of good sense by opting not to re-elect a convicted felon. Congrats, Senator Begich! That brings the Democratic majority in the Senate to an impressive 58. I would be entirely pleased if it didn't press beyond that. While filibusters aren't something I particularly appreciate -- on either side of the aisle -- I do prefer a Congress with at least some internal checks and balances. Let's keep our Democrats honest(ish) and require them to make inroads with their Republican counterparts. It's good for the country, k?
And finally, CRAP it's getting cold. Jamaica, anyone?
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